'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star's husband, Russell Armstrong, found dead of apparent suicide

Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong, was recently found dead of an apparent suicide. He was 47 years old.



Los Angeles authorities found him hanging in his bedroom on Monday, OnTheRedCarpet.com has learned. No suicide note was found. The L.A. Coroner's Office said on Tuesday that an autopsy is pending. Taylor Armstrong, 40, has not commented.



She had filed for divorce a month earlier, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking legal and primary physical custody of their 5-year-old daughter, Kennedy. She also claimed that her husband had abused her physically and verbally. At the time, he did not comment on her accusations.



He and Taylor Armstrong married in 2005 and are said to have separated about two months ago. Their troubled relationship was documented on the first season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," which aired in 2010. The second season of the Bravo reality show is scheduled to debut on September 5.



"My condolences go out to the Armstrong family," Dana Wilkey, who just joined the cast and is set to make her debut on the show during the upcoming season, said in a statement to OnTheRedCarpet.com. "I am shocked and devastated, I am here for Taylor Armstrong and Kennedy Armstrong in any capacity that they need me and will do anything in my power to support them as they move through this difficult time."



A Bravo statement posted on the cable network's Twitter page said: "All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of Russell Armstrong. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time."



Camille Grammer, who starred on the show's debut season and who is the ex-wife of "Frasier" actor Kelsey Grammer, also expressed her condolences.



"My sympathy and condolences go out to Taylor and Kennedy," she Tweeted. "My thoughts and prayers are with them."



Russell Armstrong worked as an investment Banker and venture capitalist and was the founding managing director of Crescent Financial Partners.



He filed for bankruptcy in 2005, records show, and in July of this year, he and Taylor Armstrong were sued for more than $1.5 million by MyMedicalRecords.com for alleged breach of contract. The firm accused the couple of pocketing some $1 million from people who had invested in a company called NuWay Digital Systems, claiming that the pair misused the funds to "live a lavish lifestyle." Russell Armstrong's lawyer has denied any wrongdoing by his client, according to People magazine.